Fuel-charge moistener



March 11, 1930. A, c, RUNGE ET AL FUEL CHARGE MOISTENER Filed Jan. 5, 1929 Patented Mar. 11, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTHUR c. RUNGE AND ERNEST 0.,/ DADGER, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN; SAID IaADefnn j AsSIGNoR To SAID RUNGE FEL-CHARGE MOISTENER App1ication filed January 5, 1929.

This invention relates to fuel charge moisteners for internal combustion engines and the object of the inventionis to provide a device for automatically addingmoist air to the fuel charge of an internal combustion engine while the engine is in operation.

A Jfurther object of the invention is to provide a device in which the moist air inlet is automatically closed whenl the engine stops 1o running and which will automatically open again after the engine is started.

A further objectl ofthe invention is 'to provide a device including a plunger movable longitudinally of a cylinder Vhaving a bypass therein, the devicel being so balanced that during certain operating speeds of the engine the plunger. floats in Va position adjacent the bypass to allow the moisture carrying air to pass thereabout and at other` speeds the plunger automatically shuts olf themoisture carrying air. Y.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described adapted to be connected into van automobile '25 radiator at the inlet end above the water level therein, the outletv of the device being connected into the intake manifold of the internal combustion engine through which the fuel charge is drawn.

These objects and the several novel features of the invention are hereinaftermore fully described and claimed and the preferred form of construction by which these objects are atta-ined is shown in the accompanying drawings in which` Fig. 1 is a view showing the connection of the device to an automobile radiator and an. intake manifold.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section theref through.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 'of Fig. 2. f

Fig. 4 is a detail section showing an alternative form of construction. Y

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the device comprises a casting 1 to which a hollow cylinder 2 is secured by the screws 3.' This chamber 2 is provided with a pair of diametrically opposite enlarged portions or pockets 4 which provide a bypassI about'the plunger 5 end the cylinder 2 Serial No. 3319,472.

when positioned therebetween. At the lower i is provided with a boss 6 having an opening 7 therethrough and a raised flange 8 is provided about the opening 7 within the cylinder 2 as shown. The lower end of the aperture 7 is internally threaded to receive a pipe 9 shown in Fig. 1 which extends into the intake manifold 10 of the internal combustion engine. The casting 1 is provided with an angular inlet opening 11 leading into a recess 12 about the plunger stem 13. This plunger' stem 13 is connected as shown in Fig. 2 to the plunger 5 which includes a circular plate 14 having a Vresilient face 15 secured thereto by the rivets 16. A disc 17 of resilient material is provided on the upper side of the plunger 14 and in the position shown in Fig. 2 this resilient disc engages against the terminal flange 18 about the recess 12 and closes the said recess pre'- venting air from being drawn through the conduit 11.

This conduit 11 is connected by Ineans of a pipe 19, shown in F igs. land 3. to the top of the radiator 20 above the Water level-'therein as shown. The plunger stem 3, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, is provided with a groove 21 and a set screw 22 engages in this groove and prevents rotative movement of the plunger and stem while allowing vertical movement thereof. A spring pressedl ball or other member 23 is positioned in the bottom of the recess 24 inv the'casting 1 and a spring 25 is provided adjustable by the set `screw 26 to vary the pressure on the ball.

The plunger Stem 13 is provided with a notch 27 in Y which.` this ball engages when the plunger is in the'raised position as shown in Fig. 2. The object of the spring pressed ball 23 and notch27 is to hold the plunger in the closed position which prevents the moisture carrying air from entering manifold until the engine has attained acertain speed after starting. A similar ball 28 is provided in the recess 29 in the casting 1 and a spring 30 is provided adjustable by the screw 31 to vary the tension of the spring on this ball.

As Shown in Fig. 3 a notch 32 is cut in the stem 13 for the ball 28 as the ball'willeny opening Ythe air justed that the plunger gage in this notch as the stem moves downwardly through the casting l. The objecty of this spring pressed member 28 and notch 32 is to help hold the plunger in the open positionat certain operating speeds.

The upperend of the stein 13 is threaded and a coiled spring 33 is positioned thereabout and seats in the recess 34 formed inthe casting l. The upperend of thespring engages a washer 35 and a pair ofloc'k nuts 36T are provided for adjusting the tension of the spring. 4

In Fig. 4 an alternative form ofthe device is shown. In this form the set screw 22 and the slot 21 in which it engages are left out so that the stem and plunger may rotate in the casting. In this form circumferential grooves 27 aand 32 are provided in the stein 13 which are adapted to bey engaged by the spring pressed ball 23EL or other means.

In operation the suction from the intake manifold 10 is communicated lthrough the pipe 9 to the cylinder 2 beneath the plunger 5. When the engine is cranked by hand ork turned over by the starting motor the suction produced in the intake manifold'l() tendseto draw the plunger 5 This motion is prevented by lthe spring pressed'ball 23a and notch 27 until the en-v gine `has attained a certain speed. After the Vengine starts and is idling a considerable suction isproduced due to the air inlet for the carburetor being nearly closed, the first effect of which will be to draw the plunger 5 downwardly to the bottom of 'the cylinderk and into engagement with the flange 8 about the outlet opening 7 thus closing off the outlet. AI-,Izowever, when the engine speed is increased by suction is reduced and the spring 33 rtends to raise the plunger.

The tension on the spring 33 may be so ad- 5 will be raisett to a position between the enlarged portions 4 *when the engine is running at certainoperating speeds. The plunger is assisted to remain in this position by the spring pressed ball 28 vengaging in meansmay be provided ,the enlarged portions 4 ofv the cylinder., .as

` shown in dotted ylines Lin`Fig.'2,at-which time Vsoon as y'the Yengine stops and fthe 'spring raises the airand vapor off the topof the radiator 2O is drawn through the pipe 19, conduit 11 and recess 12 and through the-pockets 4 about- Ethe plunger and .thence .through the pipe 9 yinto .the intake `manifold -of .the engine.

This adds vapor to the'fuel-charge passing Vinto l.the engine through the intake manifold 10 and fthe spring pressed ball'28 engages in -the vnotch 32 1in the :plunger stem to yieldengine for starting, but as downwardly.'

inlet or throttle valve the i the notch 32 or other for this purpose. As this plunger rises it reaches a point between the plunger shutsV off the air inlet by closing the bottom of the recess 12.

In the form shown in Fig. 4 only one ball Y Y is required which may engage in the groove 27a when the plunger is in the raised position and will engage Ain the groove 32a when the plunger is in the intermediate position.Y

In` starting'the engine it is necessaryvr to draw a rich mixture .of air and gasoline from the carburetor and for this reason it is necessary to shut off the auxiliary air supply through the fuel charge moistener and this is accomplished by providing the resilient `disc k17 which shuts off air flow through the fuel charge moistener as long as the spring 33gand ball 23 engaging inthe lnotch 27holds the plunger in: the vraised position. 7 This effectively prevents airflow through the fuel charge moistener during turning `-over of the soon as the enginestarts and runs at idling speed the plung# er is drawn downwardly to close and as the throttle is opened to increase the engine speed the suction is partially relieved allowing the plunger lto riseto posi-tion .between the bypasses 4 and allow flow ofnioist air thereabout into thefinta'ke manifold.

vFrom the foregoing description it becomes efficient in operation, will not easily get out lof order, will automatically add moisture to the fuel charge in the Vform of vapor and provides'a device hich accomplishes the .objects described. n 'l f Having thus fully described our'invention,

' evident that the device is very lsimpleand kloo its utility and mode of operation, what we Y claim anddesire to secure 'by Letters Patent of the United States is Y 1. l'In a fuel charge moistener for an internal combustionengine having a water circulatv ing radiator, a cylinder, an inlet for the cylinder connected to the radiator above the water level therein, an outlet for the cy'linderopen ing into the intake manifold of theint'ernal combustion engine, a plunger movable longi-'pl tudinally of the cylinder to close the inlet or the outlet, a stem secured .to the plunger and extending throuoh the top ofthe cylinder, an

adjustingy nut threaded onto .the .end of the stem, a coiledv spring aboutthe stem adapted Atoi-be placed under tension l'by adjustment of the adjustingnut, a springpressed member, means on the stem adaptedto be engaged/by lthe spring'pressed member when the 4plunger is in lposition intermediate the inlet andaoutlet, a second spring pressed member, meansy on the stem adapted to be engaged byrthe sec-- `ond springpressed member when the -plung er is in position to close the inlet, and a bypassV formed in ythe wall of the casing allowing' flow' of air about the plunger when in position intermediate the linlet and the outlet. 4

2. In a fuel-charge moistener forianinternal combustion'enginehaving -a waterkcirculating radiator, aicylindeuan-inlet connected bustion engine, a

to the radiator above the water level therein and opening into the top of the cylinder, an outlet in the bottom of the cylinder opening into the intake manifold of the internal complunger movable vertically in the cylinder between the inlet and the outlet, an adjustable spring normally holding the plunger'in position to close the inlet, the cylinder being provided with a bypass in the wall thereof intermediate the inlet and the outlet, the plunger being movable to position to close the inlet or the outlet, a stem secured to the plunger, a notch in the stem and yieldable means engaging the notch when the plunger is opposite the bypass.

3. In a fuel charge moistener for an internal combustion engine having a water circulating radiator, a cylinder, an inlet connected to the radiator above the water level therein and opening into the top of the cylinder, an outlet in the bottom of the chamber opening into the intake manifold of the internal coinbustion engine, a plunger movable vertically in the cylinder between the inlet and the outlet, an adjustable spring normally holding the plunger in raised position to close the inlet, the plunger being movable to position to close the outlet upon increase of suction in the cylinder, and a bypass through which air may flow about the plunger when positioned between the inlet and the outlet.

4. In a fuel charge moistener for an inernal combustion engine including a water circulating radiator, a cylinder, an inlet in the top of the cylinder, an outlet in the bottom of the cylinder, a plunger movable vertically in the cylinder between the inlet and the outlet, an adjustable spring normally holding the plunger in positionto close the inlet, the cylinder being provided with a bypass intermediate the inlet and the outlet, the outlet being connected to the intake manifold of the internal combustion engine and the inlet being connected into the radiator above the water level therein. v

5. In a fuel charge moistener for an internal combusiton engine having a water circulating radiator, a cylinder, an inlet connected to the radiator above the water level therein and opening into the cylinder, an outlet for the cylinder opening into the intake manifold of the internal combustion engine, a plunger movable in the cylinder to close the inlet or the outlet, an adjustable spring normally holding the plunger in position to close the inlet, the cylinder being provided with a pair of diametrically opposite enlargements providing a bypass about the plunger when positioned therebetween.

6. In a fuel charge moistener, for internal combustion engines having a water circulating radiator, a chamber, an inlet open to the radiator above the water level therein and opening into the chamber, an outlet for the chamber opening into the intake manifold cation.

ARTHUR C. RUNGE. ERNEST C. BADGER. 

